4 THE NATUEAL HISTOEY 



loam the soil becomes an hungry lean sand, till it mingles with 

 the forest ; and will produce little without the assistance of lime 

 and turnips. 



LETTER II. 



TO THE SAME. 



In the court of NoHon farm house, a manor farm to the north- 

 west of the village, on the white malms, stood within these twenty 

 years a broad-leaved elm, or rvych hazel, ulmux folio lalissimo scabro 

 of Ray, which, though it had lost a considei-able leading bough in 

 the great storm in the year 1703, equal to a moderate tree, yet, 

 when felled, contained eight loads of timber ; and, being too 

 bulky for a carriage, was sawn off at seven feet above the butt, 

 where it measured near eight feet in the diameter. This elm I 

 mention to show to what a bulk planted elms may attain ; as this 

 tree must certainly have been such from it's situation. 



In the centre of the village, and near the church, is a square 

 piece of ground surrounded by houses, and vulgarly called The 

 Plesior. In the midst of this spot stood, in old times, a vast oak, 

 with a short squat body, and huge horizontal arms extending 

 almost to the extremity of the area.^ This venerable tree, sur- 

 rounded with stone steps, and seats above them, was the delight 

 of old and young, and a place of much resort in summer evenings ; 

 where the former sat in grave debate, while the latter frolicked 

 and danced before them. Long might it have stood, had not 

 the amazing tempest in 1703 overturned it at once, to the infinite 

 regret of the inhabitants, and the vicar, who bestowed several 

 pounds in setting it in it's place again : but all his care could 

 not avail ; the tree sprouted for a time, then withered and died. 

 This oak I mention to show to what a bulk planted oaks also may 

 arrive : and planted this tree must certainly have been, as will 

 appear from what will be said farther concerning this area, when 

 we enter on the antiquities of Selhome. 



On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood called Losel's, 

 of a few acres, that was lately furnished with a set of oaks of a 

 peculiar growth and great value ; they were tall and taper like 

 firs, but standing near together had very small heads, only a little 

 brush without any large limbs. About twenty years ago the 



' [ The site of the oak is now marked by a sycamore of moderate size.] 



